Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators, Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dave McCormick, have launched a joint fundraising committee called Common Ground PA, filing the new political action committee with the Federal Election Commission this week. The move is notable for pairing lawmakers from opposite parties in a shared fundraising effort ahead of the 2026 midterm cycle and future contests.
Unusual political alliance
Fetterman and McCormick are known to have a personal friendship despite their partisan differences. Both are in their first term in the Senate. The committee is sponsored through separate fundraising entities tied to each senator, enabling donors to contribute to a vehicle that benefits both officeholders.
“This group of donors value the collaboration exhibited by Senators McCormick and Fetterman for Pennsylvania and want to support both of them,”
A spokesperson for McCormick provided that explanation to a local outlet. The arrangement underscores a segment of donors who prioritize cross-party cooperation on state-focused issues.
What this means for Pennsylvania
The bipartisan committee is rare in modern Senate fundraising, where parties typically maintain distinct financial operations. Pennsylvania is a national battleground in presidential elections and one of the few states with a split Senate delegation. The new PAC highlights the senators’ shared stake in delivering for the state and appealing to contributors who support pragmatic governance over strict party alignment.
- Common Ground PA has been filed with the FEC as a joint vehicle tied to both senators’ fundraising apparatus.
- Fetterman and McCormick remain members of different parties but are collaborating for donor support in the state.
- The committee comes as both senators continue their first terms: Fetterman faces reelection in 2028; McCormick’s next election is in 2030.
| Senator | Party | Next Senate Election |
|---|---|---|
| John Fetterman | Democrat | 2028 |
| Dave McCormick | Republican | 2030 |
The partnership also draws attention to Fetterman’s political positioning. He has cast himself as a centrist Democrat whose voting record sometimes aligns with Republicans, but he has publicly rejected party-switching talk, saying he would not become a Republican. The joint fundraising effort does not change their party affiliations but provides an organizational pathway for donors who back bipartisan approaches.
For Pennsylvania, the committee could affect how resources flow into state-focused programs or publicity campaigns that spotlight cooperation on issues such as infrastructure, energy, veterans’ affairs and other priorities where senators can work across the aisle. Observers will be watching whether Common Ground PA becomes a model for other bipartisan fundraising arrangements or remains an outlier tied to the personal rapport between these two senators.
Reporting on the FEC filing and statements from campaign spokespeople was used to compile this overview.
